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Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary Series

As our list of travel itineraries grows, the historic destinations you can visit online or in person are virtually endless! Each itinerary is a self-guided tour to historic places most of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Spotlighting different communities, geographic regions and themes across the country, the travel itineraries expose you to a huge variety of places significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. The Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itineraries can help you plan your next trip!

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In the Spanish Colonial Missions of the Southwest Travel Itinerary, discover the stories and legacies of 36 ofthe Spanish Colonial Missions. The lives of American Indians and the Spanish were forever changed and intertwined by the mission system that stretched across what is today Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and California.

Missions were communities aimed at converting American Indians to Roman Catholicism and to Spanish ways of life. The diversity of American Indian and Spanish peoples led to distinct histories at each mission. The destinations featured in the Spanish Colonial Missions of the Southwest Travel Itinerary reflect hundreds of years of American Indian and Spanish heritage –from the early settlements and conflicts to the creation of new cultural practices to the unforgettable architecture that became a cherished focus of preservation in the twentieth century.

In the World Heritage Sites in the United States Travel Itinerary, discover 22 exceptional cultural and natural sites that have been formally determined to possess “outstanding universal value” to humanity. Most but not all U.S. World Heritage Sites are administered by the National Park Service, and all or parts of them are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites under the World Heritage Convention, these historic and natural wonders enhance worldwide understanding and appreciation of our shared heritage.

The National Park Service invites you to visit places listed in the National Register of Historic Places that bring alive stories along El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro National Historic Trail and illuminate the diverse ways this important cultural route has contributed to the history and development of the United States. El Camino Real is North America’s longest Euro-American trade route, tying Spain’s colonial capital in Mexico City to its northern frontier in New Mexico, spanning three centuries, two countries and 1,600 miles.

Since the age of exploration, Latino peoples have played a profoundly important role in American history, contributing to and shaping the rich heritage of the United States in many ways for some 500 years. Explore their stories and their legacy by visiting the units of the National Park System and places listed in the National Register of Historic Places, most of which are designated as National Historic Landmarks, throughout the nation featured in this itinerary.

The United States of America is the most culturally diverse nation on earth. The National Park Service preserves the historic places and stories of America’s diverse cultural heritage and expands and maintains the National Register of Historic Places. This itinerary helps visitors learn about the contributions of the many peoples who have played a role in American history whose stories come alive in the units of our National Park System.

Creating national cemeteries became a necessity during the American Civil War in order for the United States military to respectfully bury the dead. These National Cemeteries have become national shrines, honoring the sacrifice and valor of the men and women who have served this country throughout its history. Commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and remember those who served.

The Preserve America Communities program recognizes and designates communities that protect and celebrate their heritage, use their historic assets for economic development and community revitalization, and encourage people to experience and appreciate local historic resources through education and heritage tourism programs.

Each itinerary provides:

Descriptions of each historic place and its importance in American history, plus contextual essays

Tourist information for historic places open to the public including hours of operation, tour possibilities, phone numbers, and website links